BETTER

Exercise and meditation are healthy ways to start the day, but you can also get mood-boosting benefits from spending time in light. Scientists at the Neurobiology Research Unit at the Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark found that 30 minutes of bright light–from the sun or light-therapy lamps–reduces anxiety.

FASTER

Make mornings about execution and not assembly, says Julie Morgenstern, author of Never Check Email in the Morning. Everything you need to start your day should be premade, packed, or prepped the night before. Don’t leave decisions–such as what to wear–for the morning. “We clutch under pressure, and choosing takes more time,” she says.

MORE FUN

Improve your mood by traveling to work on public transportation, bicycle, or foot. Researchers from the United Kingdom’s University of East Anglia found that commutes involving physical activity improved the effects of sleepless nights and general unhappiness, and traveling by train or bus gave people time to relax, read, and socialize. In fact, a study done at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business found that talking to strangers gives commuters a boost in happiness.

https://www.fastcompany.com/3038321/how-to-make-mornings-better-faster-and-more-fun